Drilling apparatus



R. A. LEHNER DRILLING APPARATUS Jan. 4, `1 955 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 13. 1949 /vyf/vro/Q: RAYALEHNER BXMW r Arr NEY j United States Patent O DRILLING APPARATUS Ray A. Lehner, Claremont, N. H., assignor to Joy Manufacturing Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application September 13, 1949, Serial No. 115,429

9 Claims. (Cl. 255-51) This invention relates to drilling apparatus and more particularly to rotary drills especially designed for drilling upright holes in the roof strata of an underground mine or other subterranean excavation, for the reception of suspension type roof anchors.

In the underground mines or other subterranean excavations it is becoming the practice to support the roof without the use of external timbering or props, and this is usually accomplished by inserting roof-bolts or pins in upright holes drilled in the roof strata, for the reception of anchors of suspension type roof supports. Various known forms of drills have been devised for drilling the anchor-receiving-holes in the roof strata but such drills are either makeshift devices or are relatively complicated, and some lack the desired compactness necessary in underground workings where low head room is encountered. The present invention contemplates improvements over known types of drilling apparatus for drilling anchor-holes in the roof strata in that a drilling apparatus is provided which is especially designed for drilling roof-support holes in the roof strata, and which is relatively simple and rugged in design, and comparatively vertically compact, well adapted for the purpose for which it is intended. The drilling apparatus of the present invention embodies a mobile base of low compact design, which carries a boom or arm structure swingable in a vertical plane and by which a drilling tool is carried, and the boom structure is not only used to effect positioning of the drilling tool with respect to the mine roof but also to effect vertical feed of the drilling tool during the hole drilling operation. ln accordance with the present invention a novel structure is provided whereby the drilling toolmay be fed rectilinearly along a lixed vertical path vas the boom or arm structure is swung in a vertical plane to effect feeding of the drilling tool. `Such rectilinear drill feed is attained by the provision of a parallel motion arrangement associated with the boom or arm structure and a freely movable mounting for the drilling tool for permitting rectilinear horizontal movement relative to the latter and the boom structure as the boom structure is swung in a vertical plane so as to compensate for the arcuate movement of the boom structure. Thus 'during swinging of the boom structure to effect feed the vertical path of the tool is maintained. v

An obiect of the presentinvention is to provide an improved drilling apparatus. Another obiect is to provide an improved drilling apparatus especially designed for drilling vertical holes in the roof strata of an underground mine or other subterranean excavation. Yet another obiect is to vprovide an improved drilling apparatus for drilling upright holes in the roof strata of an underground mine or other subterranean excavation, for the reception of anchor bolts of suspension type roof supports. A further obiect is to provide an improved drilling apparatus for drilling upright holes in the roof strata and. including a pivoted boom. or arm structure for adjustably support ing and feeding the drilling tool and a novel parallel motion mechanism cooperating with the boom structure whereby the drilling tool is maintained in a straight upright path ,irrespective of the angular position of the boom structure in a vertical plane. A still further object is to provide an improved freely movable floating mounting structure for the drilling tool whereby the latter may be fed rectiiinearly along a straight vertical path as the boom structure is swung arcuately in its plane to effect feed. Still another object is to provide an improved freely View taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

2,698,735 Patented Jan. 4, 1955 ICC movable mounting for the drilling tool carried at the outer end of the boom structure whereby when the boom is swung arcuately in a vertical plane to effect feed, the tool support may freely move horizontally with respect to the tool thereby to maintain the longitudinal axis of the drilling tool in a single vertical line. Yet another object is to provide an improved adjustable supporting and feeding structure for a drilling tool. These and other objects and advantages of the invention will, however, hereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawings there is shown for purposes of illustration one form which the invention may assume in practice.

In these drawings:

Fig. l is a plan view of a drilling apparatus in which 'an illustrative form of the invention is embodied.

tion taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. l, with the raised and lowered positions of the drilling tool shown in dotted lines.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail transverse vertical sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional Fig. 6 is an enlarged central longitudinal vertical sectional view taken through the drilling tool substantially on line 6 6 of Fig. l.

Fig. 7 is a detail transverse vertical sectional view taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

ln this illustrative embodiment of the invention, as shown in the drawings, the improved drilling apparatus, generally designated 1, is especially designed for use in drilling upright holes 2 in the roof strata of an underv ground mine or other subterranean excavation, for the reception of anchor bolts of svspenslon type roof supports. Evidently, the improved drilling apparatus may be used for other purposes.

The drilling apparatus 1 generally comprises a mobile base 3 which carries a horizontal turntable or swivel frame 4 on which an elongated boom or arm structure 5 is drilling tool generally designated 8 is guided for horizontal rectilinear movement. Cooperating with the boom structure is a parallel motion mechanism generally designated 9 for maintaining the support 7 horizontal irrespective of the angular position of the boom or arm structure in a vertical plane.

The mobile base 3 comprises a frame 10 carried by pairs of front and rear rubber-tired wheels 11, 11 and 12, 12: the front wheels 11 being traction wheels and the rear wheels 12 being steering wheels. Carried by the base frame is an electric motor 14 to which electricitv may be conducted through a usual cable reel mechanism 15 mounted at the rear end of the base frame. A conventional pump 16 is carried by the base and is driven by the motor 14 and the intake of the pump is suitably connected toa liouid tank 17 formed within the base frame. Conventional hydraulic motors 18. 18 are operatively connected to the front traction Wheels 11 and derive their pump. The steering wheels are operated through a conventional hydraulic steering cylinder 19. A conventional control valve mechanism 20 is carried by the base for controlling liouid flow with respect to the various hydraulically operated devices of the apparatus, in a well known manner.

The horizontal turntable or swivel frame 4 is mounted at the front end of the base frame to turn about a vertical axis and is rotatable about its axis by a conventional hydraulic motor 21 on the base frame and operatively connected through a conventional speed reducer to the turntable frame. The turntable has upstanding side support portions or arms 22 having aligned transverse bores .23 which receive horizontal pivot shafts 24 on which the rear frame 25 of the boom or arm structure is pivotally mounted to swing in a vertical plane with respect to the turntable. Extending forwardly and outwardly from the rear frame 25 is a tubular boom or arm frame 26 which has its outer end received in a bore 27 in a tubular portion 28 of a yoke-like outer frame 29. rl`he frame 29 is supported by the boom frame and is suitably rigidly secured thereto. Carried by the spaced yoke portions of the frame 29 is a horizontal pivot shaft 30 to which the horizontal support 7 is pivotally connected at 31. A single acting hydraulic jack 33 is pivotally mounted at 34 on the turntable frame and includes a cylinder 35 containing a reciprocable piston 36 having its piston rod extending upwardly from the cylinder and pivotally connected at 37 to the rear boom frame 25 as shown in Fig. 3. Liquid flow with respect to this jack is controlled by the valve mechanism 20.

The parallel motion arrangement 9 associated with the boom frame or arm structure for maintaining the drill support 7 horizontal comprises a non-rotatable chain sprocket 39 (Fig. 5) rigidly secured as by screws 40 to the turntable frame and this sprocket is connected by an endless chain 41 to a chain sprocket 42 (Fig. 4l

secured as byscrews 43 to the pivoted drill support 7.f As the boom frame changes its angular relation witi respect to the non-rotatable sprocket 39, the endless chain connection 41 effects a corresponding change in the angular relation of the sprocket 42 about its pivot relative to the boom frame. Thus the chain and sprocket connections 39, 41 and 42 serve to maintain the support 7 horizontal as the boom frame or arm structure is swung arcuately in a vertical plane about its pivot. The support 7 has parallel horizontal guideways 45 which are engaged by rollers 46 journaled on horizontal shafts 47 suitably secured to upright supports 48 which carry the drilling tool 3. The drilling tool is of the rotary type and comprises a casing 49 carried by the supports 48 and secured to the botttom of this casing is a conventional hydraulic motor 50 having a spur gear 51 fixed to its power shaft 52. The gear 51 meshes with and drives a spur gear 53 which has its hub 54 suitablv iournaled in bearings supported within the casing 49. The gears 51 and 53 are suitably enclosed within the casing 49 and the hub of the gear 53 has secured therein a chuck 55 which has a socket for in turn receiving the shank 56 of a drilling implement such as a conventional drill steel 57. The latter carries a usual drill bit 58 at its upper end. When low head room is encountered a sectional drill steel mav be employed. Suitable flexible conduits extend from the valve mechanism 20 through the turntable and along the boom frame for conducting lifiuid under pressure from the pump to the lifting jack 33 and the drill motor 59, and for returning the discharge lioiiid back to the tank 17, in a well-known manner. The specific structure of the drilling tool is fnllv disclosed in mv copending application Serial No. 4.5m filed March 24. 1945 now matured into Patent Nn 2.491.273. granted Dec. 13, 1949.

The general mode of operation of the improved drilling apparatus is as follows: The apparatus may be propelled about the mine or other subterranean excavation bv the motors 13 which drive the front traction wheels 11 and which are controlled bv the valve mechanism 20. and the latter also controls the flow of liouid under pressure to the hydraulic cylinder 19 for turning the rear steering wheels 12 to effect steering of the apnaratus. The motor 21, also controlled bv the valve mechamsjn 20. may be operated to rotate the turntable to swing the boom frame or arm structure laterally with respect to the base to locate the drilling tool 8 in the desired drilling position with respect to the roof. The boom frame structure 5 may swing downwardlv about its pivot, under the control of the lifting iack 33 likewise controlled by the valve mechanism 20. to bring the drilling tool close to the tloor as indicated in dotted lines 1n Fig. 3. The drilling motor 50 mav then be operated under the control of the valve mechanism 2) to rotate the drill steel 57 and linuid under pressure may be supplied to the lifting cylinder 33 to swinfy the boom frame upwardlv to bring the drill bit in drilling position against the roof as shown'in full lines in Fig. 3. As the drill bit is rapidly rotated the ack 33 mav be operated to swing the boom frame structure upwardlrr to feed the drill bit toward the work. As the boom frame is swung upwardly in a vertical plane the parallel motion chain and sprocket mechanism 9 maintains th@ support 7 in a horizontal position and since the outer end of the boom frame moves through an arcuate path as indicated in broken lines at A in Fig. 3, the free adjusting movement of the drilling tool, due to its roller mounting in the guideways 45 of the support 7, permits the drill bit to move rectilinearly along a vertical path lying in a common straight line as indicated in broken lines at B in Fig. 3. Thus the support 7 has free horif zontal movement with respect to the drilling tool as the boom frame structure is swung upwardly in a vertical plane about its pivot to effect feeding of the drill steel toward the work. The drill bit may be retracted from the work simply by venting the liquid from the lifting jack 33 under the control of the valve mechanism 2C, and likewise during lowering of the drilling tool the horizontal floating mounting for the drilling tool enables the drill bit to move along a single Vertical straight line. Thus all tendency of the drill bit becoming bound, due to lateral cramping, in the hole during the drilling operation is eliminated.

As a result of this invention an improved drilling apparatus for drilling holes in the roof strata of an underground mine or other subterranean excavation, for the reception of suspension type roof anchors, is provided. By the provision of pivoted boom or arm structure for adjustably supporting and feeding the drilling tool, a drilling apparatus which is relatively simple and` rugged in design is attained. The novel parallel motion mechanism cooperating with the boom structure and the free tloating mounting for the drilling tool enables the drilling bit to maintain a straight vertical path as the boom frame structure is swung upwardly about its pivot to elfect feed. The novel arrangement of the supporting and feeding means for the drilling tool enables a relatively long range of feed to be obtained while vertical compactness is maintained at a minimtirti-y thereby enabling the apparatus to operate in underground mines or other underground workings where low head room is encountered. The improved drilling apparatus is not only simple and rugged in design and extremely vertically compact but also due to the provision of the various hydraulic operating means and their controls the apparatus is made relatively exible in operation. Other manner of use and advantages of the invention will be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art.

While there is in this application specifically described one form which the invention may assume in practice` it will be understood that this form is shown for purposes of illustration and the invention may be modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In a drilling apparatus, the combination comprising a supporting frame, an arm pivotally mounted on said frame to swing relative thereto, a support having pivotal connection with the outer end of said arm on an axis parallel to the arm pivot axis, said support providing a guideway extending at right angles to a line parallel to the axis of said pivotal connection, a drilling tool mounted on said support for movement along said guideway, means for swinging said arm about its pivot to effect feed of said tool during the hole drilling operation, said guideway providing for movement of said support relative to said tool during swinging of said arm thereby to provide for movement of said tool along a rectilinear path during feeding of the tool, such relative movement of said tool and said support compensating for the arcuate path of movement of the outer end of said swingable arm.

2. ln a drilling apparatus, the combination comprising a drilling tool having a tool rotating motor, and supporting and feeding means for said tool for feeding the latter during the hole drilling operation comprising a pivoted boom constituting a supporting and feeding element for the tool, horizontally extending means for mounting said tool at the outer end of said boom and including a shiftable tool carrying member, and means cooperating with said boom and said mounting means to provide for movement of said tool along a straight path as said boom is swung about its pivot during the feeding o eration, said horizontally extending mounting means providing for relative horizontal movement between said mounting means and said tool carrying member as said boom is swung about its pivot as aforesaid.

3. A drilling apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said last mentioned means includes connections for automatically maintaining said mounting means in a horizontally extending direction during boom swing.

4. An apparatus of the character disclosed comprising, in combination, a supporting frame, a horizontally extending support, a motor driven tool carried by said support and means for mounting said tool on the latter to permit movement of said support horizontally relative to said tool, and supporting mechanism for said support for moving the latter to feed said tool along a rectilinear path during its operation comprising a swingable arm structure by which said support is carried, mechanism cooperating with said supporting frame, said arm structure and said support for automatically maintaining the latter in a horizontal position during swinging of said arm structure, said support moving horizontally relative to said tool during swinging of said arm structure, and means for swinging said arm structure about its pivot to elfect feeding of said tool as aforesaid.

An apparatus of the character disclosed comprising, in combination, a supporting frame, a boom frame pivotally mounted on said supporting frame to swing relative thereto about a pivotal axis, a horizontal support having pivotal connection with the outer end of said boom frame on an axis parallel to the boom frame pivot axis, a motor driven tool carried by said horizontal support, means cooperating with said tool and said support providing for relative horizontal movement therebetween, connections cooperating with said support, said boom frame and said supporting frame for automatically maintaining said support horizontal during swinging of said boom frame about its pivot, and means for swinging said boom frame about its pivot to feed said tool along a rectilinear path during support moving horizontally relative to said tool during swinging of said boom frame as aforesaid.

6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said connections include a stationary element coaxial with the boom frame pivot, an element secured to said support at the axis of said pivotal connection and a flexible member engaging said elements, said exible member eecting turning of said second mentioned element about its axis as said boom frame is swung about its pivot substantially to effect such maintenance of the horizontal disposition of said support.

7. In a drilling apparatus, the combination comprising a base, an elongated boom structure pivotally mounted on said base to swing with respect thereto for supporting and feeding a drilling implement with respect to the work, a drilling tool carried by said boom structure and including a hole drilling implement extending in a drilling direction from the outer end of said boom structure toward the hole drilling operation, said the Work, and a movable mounting for said tool at the outer end of said boom structure to provide for movement of said drilling implement along a straight path as said boom structure is swung about its pivot to effect feed of said-implement, said movable mounting including horizontally extending guiding means and means for mounting said tool on said guiding means and between which guiding means and said tool mounting means relative horizontal movement occurs as said boom structure is swung about its pivot.

8. In a drilling apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein said movable mounting also includes connections cooperating with said boom structure for automatically maintaining said guiding means and said tool mounting means thereon horizontal irrespective of the angular position of said boom structure about its pivot.

9. In a drilling apparatus, the combination comprising a hole drilling tool, a pivoted arm swingable about its pivot with the outer end of said arm moving arcuately and a mounting carried by the outer end of said arm for supporting said tool, means for swinging said arm about its pivotal axis to effect feeding of said tool during the hole drilling operation, and parallel motion connections cooperating with said arm and said mounting to provide for movement of said tool along a rectilinear path during swinging of said arm about its pivot, said mounting for said tool comprising a support providing a horizontally extending guideway by which said tool is carried and means for mounting said tool for movement along said guideway, and said connections automatically maintaining said support-guideway in its horizontally extending position during swinging of said arm about its pivot and said guideway providing for movement of said support in a horizontal direction relative to said tool mounting means as said arm swings about its pivot to compensate for the arcuate path of movement of the outer end of said arm.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,541,392 Reaney June 9, 1925 1,674,669 Stedman June 26, 1928 1,869,622 Rowe Aug. 2, 1932 2,123,897 Holmes July 19, 1938 2,131,175 Holmes Sept. 27, 1938 2,210,628 Mantini Aug. 6, 1940 2,217,300 Templeton Oct. 8, 1940 2,292,098 Austin et al. Aug. 4, 1942 2,456,056 Fellay et al. Dec. 14, 1948 2,491,273 Lehner Dec. 13, 1949 2,500,931 Curtis Mar. 21, 1950 2,500,932 Curtis et al Mar. 21, 1950 

